It "clad" the majority of Pilz 's exhibition stand, visually underlining the importance the company attaches to its new development - the PSENmat safety mat. According to Armin Glaser, Head of Product Management at the safe automation specialist from Ostfildern, the position detection integrated into the mat enables completely new machine operating concepts: For example, the worker can use previously defined and marked mat areas to trigger an integrated switch functionality with a foot actuation and work completely hands-free.

"PSENmat is the first safety mat on the market to have electronic, monitored OSSD safety outputs," Glaser is convinced, adding: "Up to 22 of the 60 x 100 centimetre mats can be easily connected in series or evaluated individually by parameterizing them in the PLC. Each zone can trigger its own safety reaction - from a safe reduced speed to a safe stop. At the same time, each mat is equipped with 40 virtual switches that can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This means that the operator has a completely freely parameterizable operating or acknowledgement function available at any point. In this way, for example, separate switches in panels or entire control consoles can be replaced."

PSENmat can be easily connected to the configurable safety systems PNOZmulti or the automation system PSS 4000. The switching statuses are displayed on site via the web-based visualization solution PASvisu. The new safety mat should be available from the 2nd quarter of next year.

Say goodbye!

She has been at SPS IPC Drives with her company and in person from the very beginning and is also a member of the exhibitor advisory board - Chairwoman of the Management Board Renate Pilz. This year's automation trade fair will be her last, as she will be retiring from active management of the company at the end of the year. A farewell with melancholy, Ms. Pilz?

Renate Pilz

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Renate Pilz: "As the leading trade fair for automation, SPS IPC Drives plays a special role for our company and indeed for the entire industry. I will therefore miss the trade fair somewhat. However, the farewell fills me with great gratitude. Because I am handing over the management of Pilz to my daughter and son. Based on our values and our strategy, they will continue to lead the company in a proven manner."